Vitamin K deficiency on the rise as more parents decline recommended shots for their newborns
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended a single intramuscular dose of vitamin K for newborns since 1961; however, in the last decade parents have increasingly elected to skip the shot.
In the past decade, a concerning trend has emerged as more parents are opting to skip the recommended vitamin K injection for their newborns, according to a study led by pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth Wolf at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. The research, published in JAMA Pediatrics, reveals that the rates of vitamin K deficiency (VKD) and vitamin K-deficient bleeding (VKDB) have skyrocketed in tandem with the decline in vitamin K injections.
Vitamin K is crucial for blood clotting, and newborns typically have a deficiency due to factors like inefficient placental transfer and low vitamin K content in breast milk. Previous studies have documented a rise in VKD and VKDB, which can lead to severe complications such as intracranial hemorrhage, seizures, brain damage, or even death.
The study, which analyzed deidentified health records from over 11 million infants, found that the uptake of vitamin K injections fell from 97.7% to 95.0% between 2017 and 2025, while VKD and VKDB rates surged by 216% and 347%, respectively.
Despite the known risks, parental refusal of the injection has been on the rise, coinciding with a growing mistrust in medical professionals. The researchers caution that while causality cannot be definitively established, other factors remain constant or decreased during the same period, suggesting a strong link. The rise in mistrust is likened to recent measles outbreaks, emphasizing the need for clear, effective communication from public health authorities about the importance of vitamin K administration for newborns.
Further research is needed to understand the reasons behind the refusal and to improve vaccination rates.
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